Sectional stock-case



(No Model.) 2 Sheets--Sheet 1.

O. H. L. WBRNIUKE. SEGTIONL STOCK ASE.

No. 487,460. Patented Dec. 6, 1892.

Wawy@ mmf@ zformf@ He L. WBRNICKE. SBGTIONAL STOCK CASE.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(NO Moael.)

No. 487,460. Patented Dec. 6, 1892.

.PATENT FFIFCE@ OTTO II. L. WERNIOKE, OF MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA.

SECTIONAL STOCK-CASE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 487.460, dated December 6, 1892.

Application filed April 9, 1892. Serial No. 428,460. (No model.)

To aZZ Iwhom it may concern:

Be it known that I, OTTO H. L. WERNICKE,

' of Minneapolis, Hennepin county, Minnesota,

case for mercantile houses; and its object is to provide a convenient rack or case having a large number' of boxes or compartments adapted to receive the various articles used in trade, and more especially t0 so construct the case that it will occupy the least possible space and the parts of which will be separable and interchangeable, thus adapting the rack 0r case to be readily taken down and moved and permitting of any arrangement to suit the size and shape of any room.

To this end my invention consists of a rack or case made up of a number of crate-like sections so constructed that when separate parts of their sides are open, but when placed together in the order intended, the sides of one crate, With those of the adjoining crates, mesh or register to form a solid Wall, and in particular constructions and combinations, all as hereinafter described, and pointed out in the claims.

The invention will be more readily understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, in Which- Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the construction of a sectional stock-case embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a partial side View thereof. Fig. 3 is an end view of the same, and Fig. 4 is a perspective View showing a modification of the construction shown in the other figures.

As shown in the drawings, the end View of one of my complete and two-sided racks represents a pyramidal form having the steps or ledges 2, formed by the decreased width of the sections as they rise one above the other, and upon which a person may stand when reaching into the upper boxes. This form is further useful as giving the whole rack stability. The lower tier consists in the two long and high crates having the solid bottoms 3 and the upright end pieces 4. Each of these is separated into upper and lower parts by a middle ooring 5. These crates are placed back to back and the long boards 6 on one arranged to overlap with the back boards 7 of the having, preferably, one less compartment, so

that the same are larger than those above.

`The low strips 9 and l0, one setting down upon the door and the other having its lower edge tlush with the bottom ot the ooring 5, serve to prevent the articles in the compartments from rolling out.

On the top of each of the large crates are the ledge-boards 1l and the inner ones 12, separated by a gap between each pair and adapted to receive the bottom boards 13 of the long crate having the end boards 14, the boards 12 and 13 thus making up the tloorot this crate and completing the tops ofthe two lower ones. A middle partition extends the full length of each ot' the crates 14, l5, 16, 17, and 18, and lateral and vertical partitions 19 divide'them into large or small compartments, as desired. The succeeding crates are provided in each case with two bottom boards 20, adapted to extend down on each side of a middle board 21, provided on the top of the underlying crate, and the top case has the solid top or cover 23. As shown best inFig. 3, the retaining strips or slats 24 of the upper crates extend down over the front and upper corners of the underlying crate to ettectually prevent lateral movement of one crate with respect to the other, although sectional lioors would of themselves serve this purpose. Where the case is to be placed against the side Wall of a room only one halt would be employed, the other halt being cut ot'f just back of the longitudinal and vertical partitions 25, before referred to.

In place of employing the long longitudinal crates the transverse crates may be used, the arrangement being as shown in Fig. 4. The crates are putin from the front and have solid backs 26 and open fronts. The tops of the crates are formed ot two pieces 27 in each case, and the bottom of each crate has one or two lateral pieces 28 to overlap with respect to the same. The front edges of the oors thus formed are protected by a long strip nailed in IOO place after the boxes have been arranged or by a short strip provided on the lower edge of each box or crate when first constructed. The sides of the boxes or crates preferably each have a single board 29 for each side, the positions of the boards on the different sides being alternated, so that when the crates are placed together they will form solid boxes without cracks or crevises. The pyramidal effects may be obtained by making the upper boxes shorter with respect to the lower ones, and, if desired, the same effects in longitudinal cross-section may be obtained by arranging the boxes as shown in Fig. 4.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patentl. A sectional stock-case made up of separable crates, having individually-incomplete walls composed of separated slats or boards, the slats of each filling the openings between the slats of adjoining crates to complete the several walls, substantially as described.

2. A sectional stock-rack composed of several crates adapted to rest upon or against one another and having alternately-arranged slats, which when the crates are so placed form solid walls between them, said walls being of the thickness of a single board or slat, and dividing -parttions arranged in said crates, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

3. The combination, with large crates, of smaller or narrower ones arranged thereon, the larger crates having tops to extend beyond 4the others to form ledges, dividing-partitions in said crates, the side and top walls thereof and said walls being completed by the overlapping or intel-meshing of the slats upon the several crates, substantially as described.

4. The combination, in the stock-rack, of several crates, each having end and partition pieces, an even number of parts on the bottom and an uneven number on the top, completing the crate, equal spaces being left between said parts, whereby any number of such crates may be placed together one upon the other to com plete solid walls between them.

5. The combination, with the several crates provided with the intermeshing floor-partitions, of transverse partitions therein and the depending and overlapping retaining-strips provided upon the outer edges, substantially as described.

6. The combination, with the large crates each provided with compartments, of the boards ov upon one and a board 7 upon the other to constitute the vertical partition between them, the top boards ll and 12 of each crate and each ot' the overlying crates having the alternately-arranged strips or boards, whereby complete partitions are constituted between the several parts and the Whole firmly locked together, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 2d day of April, A. D. 1892.

OTTO H. L. WERNICKE.

In presence of- F. S. LYON, C. G. HAWLEY. 

